Prosecutor Joanne Barker said officers were looking for another man when they came across the defendant at 2.20pm on January 11.

Miss Barker said: “He was standing next to a parked car. He smelt of cannabis. He was searched. Police found 19 deals of skunk cannabis in his bag. The drugs weighed 42.4 grams and were valued at £450.

“Officers also seized £177 and his mobile phone.”

The defendant answered no comment to all questions in his police interview. But his phone was examined and showed he had been offering to supply cannabis.

Diskin, of Mornington Road, Sneyd Green, pleaded guilty to possession of a class B drug with intent to supply.

Stuart Muldoon, mitigating, said the defendant was smoking cannabis on a daily basis but wants to stop using the drug.

He said Diskin is now working full-time for a marquee company.

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Mr Muldoon added: “He now realises the wider impact that selling cannabis can have. He says if he can keep his liberty he will never smoke another cannabis joint. He went on holiday last week and did not use any cannabis at all.”

Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Diskin to six months in prison, suspended for two years, with a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement, 120 hours unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

He told Diskin: “Your basis of plea is not contentious - you were dealing for a couple of months to a small group of friends to finance your own use.

“You were arrested with 19 cannabis deals. Your phone indicated involvement in dealing in early December.